Cobalt blue tarantula

The cobalt blue tarantula (Cyriopagopus lividus) is a tarantula species (family Theraphosidae) native to Myanmar[1] and over the border into Thailand.[2] It was originally described as Haplopelma lividum.

Cobalt blue tarantula
In Kaeng Krachan District, Phetchaburi, Thailand
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Cyriopagopus
Species:
C. lividus
Binomial name
Cyriopagopus lividus
(Smith, 1996)[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Haplopelma lividum Smith, 1996

Description

The cobalt blue tarantula is a medium-sized tarantula with a leg span around 13  cm (5 in). It is noted for its iridescent blue legs and light gray prosoma and opisthosoma, the latter of which may contain darker gray chevrons.[3] Males and females look the same until the ultimate (final) molt of the males. At this point, the male exhibits sexual dimorphism in the form of a light tan or bronze coloration and legginess. Additionally, males gain a palpal bulb on the pedipalps and tibial apophyses (mating hooks). The female eventually becomes larger than the male and lives years longer.[4] The cobalt blue tarantula is a fossorial species and spends nearly all of its time in deep burrows of its own construction.

  • A female (left) and male (right) in courtship in captivity
  • A second-instar spiderling cobalt blue tarantula near burrow

Habitat

Cobalt blue tarantulas inhabit the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia,[5] where they construct deep burrows, and generally only leave them to find food.

Pets

The cobalt blue tarantula is a mainstay in the pet trade, despite being a fast and defensive tarantula with potent venom.[6] Bites from this species can result in severe muscle cramps and inflammation.[7]

References
  1. "Taxon details Cyriopagopus lividus Smith, 1996", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2017-03-18
  2. "บึ้งน้ำเงินเพชฌฆาต สวยประหารพันธุ์ดุ" [The killer cobalt blue tarantula, fierce femme fatale]. Thai Rath (in Thai). 2009-05-15. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  3. Photos of Haplopelma lividum
  4. http://www.everything-cobalt-blue.com/cobalt-blue-tarantula.html
  5. Smith, A. M. (1996). "A new species of Haplopelma (Araneae: Theraphosidae), with notes on two close relatives". Mygalomorph. 1: 21–32.
  6. Takaoka Makoto (2001). "Tarantulas Bite: Two Case Reports of Finger Bite from Haplopelma lividum". The Japanese Journal of Toxicology. 14 (3): 247–250.
  7. "Cobalt Blue Tarantula (Haplopelma lividum)". Keeping Exotic Pets. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
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